JBL: CD's fine but radio horrible

[r1perkins]

Just got my new Prius AI and I am really enjoying driving it - really cool car.

I know there's been lot's of discussion about the short-comings of the upgraded JBL stereo but I seem to have a problem I couldn't find any discussion of; while the audio system is not fabulous, CD's and cassettes sound ok. But switch to any FM radio station and it sounds like your listening through a blanket. Even if I max out the treble it's still painfully lacking. I'm wondering if this goes beyond poor sound quality to an actual malfunction . . . has anyone had similar experiences?

I'm an audio engineer by trade. I can tell you that when listening to FM stations, there is audio emanating from the tweeters. But it sounds to me like there's nothing above 4KHz or so, as if it's AM. If I switch to CD or tape, I get full range sound, or at least up to 16KHz (or so).

[mikepaul]

I find playing store-bought CDs a lot better than ones I made from MP3s (CD -> MP3 -> CD) but I agree that for the most part, either has better sound than the radio. Every once in a while, though, I hear nice nuances from the radio and CD at lower volume that disappear when I crank it, which sucks because cranked (50) is usually more fun...

[TonyPSchaefer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul\";p=\"75768)</div>

. . .because cranked (50) is usually more fun...[/b]

Which makes me wonder: just what is the upper limit of the Prius audio system and speakers.

I've had the music turned up to 35 (I do enjoy Linkin Park) a couple times and worried about the speakers. I have to turn it up to 35 - 40 to hear audiobooks over ambient road noise. But just what is the upper limit? If it matters, I'm talking BC package JBL stereo.

[Rumply]

Someone here disassembled the JBL system and ran tests on the output.. finding as I remember problems and suggested solutions. Might want to search for JBL uncovered and see if you can see what was done there.
http://www.priuschat.com/forums/jbl-premiu...ered-vt7284.htm

AS for my system... I've never really noticed much wrong with the sound.. but I play CDs a vast majority of the time... and when I do have the radio on, it is usually news...

[DanMan32]

On all radios, I have never found my station to broadcast very well. Many stations these days store songs on their computers, so they may be using MP3 compressed songs.
FM has an upper limit of about 19KHz due to the stereo pilot tone.

Interesting enought, TV uses 15Khz to correspond with the horizontal sync.

[Tideland Prius]

Tony, if you're talking about the vol, it goes up to 62

[r1perkins]

After having the car a few more days I continue to be amazed at how cool it is in so many ways. But I'm finding that every time I switch to or from the radio I have to change the eq setting, drastically. And it takes a few steps to many to be doing so it so often. CD's sound fine, but I think I'm going to bring this back the dealer and have it looked at. I'll post whatever happens . . . I wonder if the radio is a warranty item . . .

Anyways, thanks for the responses. I had been wondering how far you could turn it up, too!